An Indian artist stands near Ganesh idols for sale on the first day of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in New Delhi on September 9, 2013. The Hindu festival is celebrating the rebirth of the God Lord Ganesha and culminates on September 19, with many of the statues being immersed in bodies of water.

Photograph by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS

Photo 2 / 35

An Indian Hindu devotee carries an idol of elephant-headed Hindu god Ganesha for immersion inside an environmentally friendly artificial water tank on the fifth day of the ten-day long festival Ganesh Chaturthi, in Mumbai on September 13, 2013. Hindu devotees bring home idols of Lord Ganesha in order to invoke his blessings for wisdom and prosperity. The ten day Ganesh Festival sees millions of Hindus gathering along the western city’s coast to immerse the elephant-god idols in the Arabian sea.

Photograph by INDRANIL MUKHERJEE

Photo 3 / 35

An Indian Hindu devotee carries an idol of elephant-headed Hindu god Ganesha for immersion at the Dadar Chowpatty beach on the fifth day of the ten-day long festival Ganesh Chaturthi, in Mumbai on September 13, 2013. Hindu devotees bring home idols of Lord Ganesha in order to invoke his blessings for wisdom and prosperity. The ten day Ganesh Festival sees millions of Hindus gathering along the western city’s coast to immerse the elephant-god idols in the Arabian sea.

Photograph by PUNIT PARANJPE

Photo 4 / 35

Indian Hindu devotees walk around idols of elephant-headed Hindu god Ganesha as they chant mantras - religious hymns - during a traditional ritual before immersion at the Dadar Chowpatty beach on the second day of the ten-day long festival Ganesh Chaturthi, in Mumbai on September 10, 2013. Hindu devotees bring home idols of Lord Ganesha in order to invoke his blessings for wisdom and prosperity. The ten day Ganesh Festival sees millions of Hindus gathering along the western city’s coast to immerse the elephant-god idols in the Arabian sea.

Photograph by PUNIT PARANJPE

Photo 5 / 35

In this Thursday, Sept. 12, 2013 photo, Indians hold earthen lamps and perform rituals during Ganesha Chaturthi festival in Ahmadabad, India. The 10-day long festival is celebrated to mark the birth of Ganesha, the Hindu god of wisdom, prosperity and good fortune.

Photograph by Ajit Solanki

Photo 6 / 35

An Indian Hindu devotee carries an idol of elephant-headed Hindu god Ganesha for immersion at the Dadar Chowpatty beach on the second day of the ten-day long festival Ganesh Chaturthi, in Mumbai on September 10, 2013. Hindu devotees bring home idols of Lord Ganesha in order to invoke his blessings for wisdom and prosperity. The ten day Ganesh Festival sees millions of Hindus gathering along the western city’s coast to immerse the elephant-god idols in the Arabian sea.

Photograph by PUNIT PARANJPE

Photo 7 / 35

An Indian Hindu devotee carries an idol of elephant-headed Hindu god Ganesha for immersion at the Dadar Chowpatty beach on the fifth day of the ten-day long festival Ganesh Chaturthi, in Mumbai on September 13, 2013. Hindu devotees bring home idols of Lord Ganesha in order to invoke his blessings for wisdom and prosperity. The ten day Ganesh Festival sees millions of Hindus gathering along the western city’s coast to immerse the elephant-god idols in the Arabian sea.

Photograph by PUNIT PARANJPE

Photo 8 / 35

Indian Hindu devotees take home an idol of the elephant-headed Hindu god Lord Ganesha for Ganesh Chaturthi in Mumbai on September 9, 2013. The Ganesh Chaturthi festival, a popular 10-day religious festival which is annually celebrated across India, runs this year from September 9-18 and culminates with the immersion of the idols in the Arabian Sea and local water bodies.

Photograph by PUNIT PARANJPE

Photo 9 / 35

An Indian Hindu devotee carries an idol of elephant-headed Hindu god Ganesha for immersion at Hussain Sagar Lake on the third day of the ten-day long festival Ganesh Chaturthi in Hyderabad on September 11, 2013. Hindu devotees bring home idols of Lord Ganesha in order to invoke his blessings for wisdom and prosperity, during the ten-day long Festival which culminates with the immersion of the idols in different water bodies.

Photograph by NOAH SEELAM

Photo 10 / 35

Indian Hindu devotees stand near an idol of elephant-headed Hindu god Ganesha as they chant mantras - religious hymns - during a traditional ritual before immersion at the Dadar Chowpatty beach on the second day of the ten-day long festival Ganesh Chaturthi, in Mumbai on September 10, 2013. Hindu devotees bring home idols of Lord Ganesha in order to invoke his blessings for wisdom and prosperity. The ten day Ganesh Festival sees millions of Hindus gathering along the western city’s coast to immerse the elephant-god idols in the Arabian sea.

Photograph by PUNIT PARANJPE

Photo 11 / 35

Indian Hindu devotees carry an idol of lord Ganesh during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in New Delhi on September 9, 2013. The Ganesh Chaturthi festival, a popular 11-day religious festival which is annually celebrated across India, runs from September 9-19 and culminates with the immersion of the idols in local water bodies.

Photograph by PRAKASH SINGH

Photo 12 / 35

Indian artisans (R) paint idols of Hindu god Lord Ganesh at a roadside market ahead of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in New Delhi on September 7, 2013. The Hindu festival which celebrates the rebirth of the God Lord Ganesha, begins this year on September 9 and culminates on September 19, with many of the statues being immersed in bodies of water.

Photograph by RAVEENDRAN

Photo 13 / 35

An Indian Hindu devotee carries an idol of elephant-headed Hindu god Ganesha on his head for immersion at the Dadar Chowpatty beach on the second day of the ten-day long festival Ganesh Chaturthi, in Mumbai on September 10, 2013. Hindu devotees bring home idols of Lord Ganesha in order to invoke his blessings for wisdom and prosperity. The ten day Ganesh Festival sees millions of Hindus gathering along the western city’s coast to immerse the elephant-god idols in the Arabian sea.

Photograph by PUNIT PARANJPE

Photo 14 / 35

Indian Hindu devotees transport an idol of elephant-headed Hindu god Ganesha in a boat for immersion at the Dadar Chowpatty beach on the fifth day of the ten-day long festival Ganesh Chaturthi, in Mumbai on September 13, 2013. Hindu devotees bring home idols of Lord Ganesha in order to invoke his blessings for wisdom and prosperity. The ten day Ganesh Festival sees millions of Hindus gathering along the western city’s coast to immerse the elephant-god idols in the Arabian sea.

Photograph by PUNIT PARANJPE

Photo 15 / 35

An Indian Hindu devotee carries an idol of elephant-headed Hindu god Ganesha for immersion at the Dadar Chowpatty beach on the fifth day of the ten-day long festival Ganesh Chaturthi, in Mumbai on September 13, 2013. Hindu devotees bring home idols of Lord Ganesha in order to invoke his blessings for wisdom and prosperity. The ten day Ganesh Festival sees millions of Hindus gathering along the western city’s coast to immerse the elephant-god idols in the Arabian sea.

Photograph by PUNIT PARANJPE

Photo 16 / 35

Indian Hindu devotees take home an idol of the elephant-headed Hindu god Lord Ganesha for Ganesh Chaturthi in Mumbai on September 9, 2013. The Ganesh Chaturthi festival, a popular 10-day religious festival which is annually celebrated across India, runs this year from September 9-18 and culminates with the immersion of the idols in the Arabian Sea and local water bodies.

Photograph by PUNIT PARANJPE

Photo 17 / 35

An Indian Hindu devotee carries an idol of elephant-headed Hindu god Ganesha for immersion inside an environmentally friendly artificial water tank on the fifth day of the ten-day long festival Ganesh Chaturthi, in Mumbai on September 13, 2013. Hindu devotees bring home idols of Lord Ganesha in order to invoke his blessings for wisdom and prosperity. The ten day Ganesh Festival sees millions of Hindus gathering along the western city’s coast to immerse the elephant-god idols in the Arabian sea.

Photograph by INDRANIL MUKHERJEE

Photo 18 / 35

Indian Hindu devotees gather in front of a 56-foot (17-meter) tall idol of Hindu god Lord Ganesh, popularly known as “Khairatabad Ganesh”, during the festival of ‘Ganesh Chaturthi’ in Hyderabad on September 8, 2013. Hindu devotees bring home idols of Lord Ganesha in order to invoke his blessings for wisdom and prosperity, during the eleven-day long Festival which culminates with the immersion of the idols in different water bodies.

Photograph by NOAH SEELAM

Photo 19 / 35

An Indian Hindu devotee carries an idol of elephant-headed Hindu god Ganesha for immersion at the holy river of Ganges on the third day of the ten-day long festival Ganesh Chaturthi in Kolkata on September 11, 2013. Hindu devotees bring home idols of Lord Ganesha in order to invoke his blessings for wisdom and prosperity. The ten day Ganesh Festival sees millions of Hindus immerse the elephant-god idols in water bodies.

Photograph by DIBYANGSHU SARKAR

Photo 20 / 35

An Indian Hindu devotee touches the foot of a 56-foot (17-meter) tall idol of Hindu god Lord Ganesh, popularly known as “Khairatabad Ganesh”, during the festival of ‘Ganesh Chaturthi’ in Hyderabad on September 8, 2013. Hindu devotees bring home idols of Lord Ganesha in order to invoke his blessings for wisdom and prosperity, during the eleven-day long Festival which culminates with the immersion of the idols in different water bodies.

Photograph by NOAH SEELAM

Photo 21 / 35

An Indian Hindu devotee carries an idol of elephant-headed Hindu god Ganesha for immersion at Hussain Sagar Lake on the third day of the ten-day long festival Ganesh Chaturthi in Hyderabad on September 11, 2013. Hindu devotees bring home idols of Lord Ganesha in order to invoke his blessings for wisdom and prosperity, during the ten-day long Festival which culminates with the immersion of the idols in different water bodies.

Photograph by NOAH SEELAM

Photo 22 / 35

An Indian child artisan carries an idol of elephant-headed Hindu God Ganesha at a workshop ahead of Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Chennai, India, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2013. Ganesh Chaturthi, which begins from Sept. 9, is celebrated as the birthday of Lord Ganesha who is widely worshiped by Hindus as the God of wisdom, prosperity and good fortune.

Photograph by Arun Sankar K.

Photo 23 / 35

An Indian Hindu devotee carries an idol of elephant-headed Hindu god Ganesha for immersion inside an environmentally friendly artificial water tank on the fifth day of the ten-day long festival Ganesh Chaturthi, in Mumbai on September 13, 2013. Hindu devotees bring home idols of Lord Ganesha in order to invoke his blessings for wisdom and prosperity. The ten day Ganesh Festival sees millions of Hindus gathering along the western city’s coast to immerse the elephant-god idols in the Arabian sea.

Photograph by INDRANIL MUKHERJEE

Photo 24 / 35

An Indian Hindu devotee carries an idol of elephant-headed Hindu god Ganesha for immersion at Hussain Sagar Lake on the third day of the ten-day long festival Ganesh Chaturthi in Hyderabad on September 11, 2013. Hindu devotees bring home idols of Lord Ganesha in order to invoke his blessings for wisdom and prosperity, during the ten-day long Festival which culminates with the immersion of the idols in different water bodies.

Photograph by NOAH SEELAM

Photo 25 / 35

An Indian Hindu devotee immerses an idol of elephant-headed Hindu god Ganesha in the holy river of Ganges on the third day of the ten-day long festival Ganesh Chaturthi in Kolkata on September 11, 2013. Hindu devotees bring home idols of Lord Ganesha in order to invoke his blessings for wisdom and prosperity. The ten day Ganesh Festival sees millions of Hindus immerse the elephant-god idols in water bodies.

Photograph by DIBYANGSHU SARKAR

Photo 26 / 35

An Indian Hindu devotee carries an idol of elephant-headed Hindu god Ganesha for immersion at the Dadar Chowpatty beach on the second day of the ten-day long festival Ganesh Chaturthi, in Mumbai on September 10, 2013. Hindu devotees bring home idols of Lord Ganesha in order to invoke his blessings for wisdom and prosperity. The ten day Ganesh Festival sees millions of Hindus gathering along the western city’s coast to immerse the elephant-god idols in the Arabian sea.

Photograph by PUNIT PARANJPE

Photo 27 / 35

An Indian Hindu devotee submerges an idol of elephant-headed Hindu god Ganesha inside an environmentally friendly artificial water tank on the fifth day of the ten-day long festival Ganesh Chaturthi, in Mumbai on September 13, 2013. Hindu devotees bring home idols of Lord Ganesha in order to invoke his blessings for wisdom and prosperity. The ten day Ganesh Festival sees millions of Hindus gathering along the western city’s coast to immerse the elephant-god idols in the Arabian sea.

Photograph by INDRANIL MUKHERJEE

Photo 28 / 35

Indian Hindu devotees transport an idol of elephant-headed Hindu god Ganesha in a boat for immersion at the Dadar Chowpatty beach on the fifth day of the ten-day long festival Ganesh Chaturthi, in Mumbai on September 13, 2013. Hindu devotees bring home idols of Lord Ganesha in order to invoke his blessings for wisdom and prosperity. The ten day Ganesh Festival sees millions of Hindus gathering along the western city’s coast to immerse the elephant-god idols in the Arabian sea.

Photograph by PUNIT PARANJPE

Photo 29 / 35

An Indian Hindu devotee submerges an idol of elephant-headed Hindu god Ganesha for immersion inside an environmentally-friendly artificial water tank on the fifth day of the ten-day long festival Ganesh Chaturthi, in Mumbai on September 13, 2013. Hindu devotees bring home idols of Lord Ganesha in order to invoke his blessings for wisdom and prosperity. The ten day Ganesh Festival sees millions of Hindus gathering along the western city’s coast to immerse the elephant-god idols in the Arabian sea.

Photograph by INDRANIL MUKHERJEE

Photo 30 / 35

An Indian devotee carries an idol of elephant-headed Hindu God Ganesha to his home during Ganesh Chaturthi festival celebrations in Mumbai, India, Monday, Sept. 9, 2013. The 10-day long Ganesh festival began Monday and ends with the immersion of Ganesha idols in water bodies on the 10th day.

Photograph by Rafiq Maqbool

Photo 31 / 35

Idols of the Hindu god Lord Ganesh are seen on sale at a roadside market ahead of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in New Delhi on September 7, 2013. The Hindu festival which celebrates the rebirth of the God Lord Ganesha, begins this year on September 9 and culminates on September 19, with many of the statues being immersed in bodies of water.

Photograph by RAVEENDRAN

Photo 32 / 35

Indian Hindu devotees carry idols of elephant-headed Hindu god Ganesha on their head for immersion at the Dadar Chowpatty beach on the second day of the ten-day long festival Ganesh Chaturthi, in Mumbai on September 10, 2013. Hindu devotees bring home idols of Lord Ganesha in order to invoke his blessings for wisdom and prosperity. The ten day Ganesh Festival sees millions of Hindus gathering along the western city’s coast to immerse the elephant-god idols in the Arabian sea.

Photograph by PUNIT PARANJPE

Photo 33 / 35

A giant idol of elephant-headed Hindu God Ganesha is transported towards a worship area ahead of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2013. Ganesh Chaturthi, which begins from Sept. 9, is celebrated as the birthday of Lord Ganesha who is widely worshiped by Hindus as the God of wisdom, prosperity and good fortune.

Photograph by Rajanish Kakade

Photo 34 / 35

Indian Hindu devotees, with the help of crane workers, immerse an idol of elephant-headed Hindu god Ganesha in Hussain Sagar Lake on the third day of the ten-day long festival Ganesh Chaturthi in Hyderabad on September 11, 2013. Hindu devotees bring home idols of Lord Ganesha in order to invoke his blessings for wisdom and prosperity, during the ten-day long Festival which culminates with the immersion of the idols in different water bodies.

Photograph by NOAH SEELAM

Photo 35 / 35

An Indian Hindu devotee submerges an idol of elephant-headed Hindu god Ganesha for immersion inside an environmentally-friendly artificial water tank on the fifth day of the ten-day long festival Ganesh Chaturthi, in Mumbai on September 13, 2013. Hindu devotees bring home idols of Lord Ganesha in order to invoke his blessings for wisdom and prosperity. The ten day Ganesh Festival sees millions of Hindus gathering along the western city’s coast to immerse the elephant-god idols in the Arabian sea.